Department of Finance of Canada : Finance Minister Morneau Consults British Columbians for the 2016 Budget

Minister hosts pre-budget consultations in Surrey on how to grow the economy to strengthen the middle class

January 16, 2016 - Surrey, B.C. - Department of Finance

Today in Surrey, Finance Minister Bill Morneau is hosting pre-budget consultations at the Surrey Board of Trade seeking advice on how best to support the middle class, grow the economy, and create long-term prosperity for all Canadians.

At the Board of Trade event, Minister Morneau provided participants with a first-hand overview on the state of the economy, and engaged in discussions on the Government's plan to grow the economy.

These meetings in Surrey conclude a series of cross-country conversations on the 2016 budget that began in Halifax. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance François-Philippe Champagne is also hosting a series of pre-budget consultations across the country.

The Minister of Finance has participated in 19 separate roundtables, meetings, chats and panels since starting his tour on January 11. Since the consultations opened online on January 6, 2016, over 1,700 submissions from Canadians have been received, and thousands more have taken to Twitter and Facebook to share their views.

Tens of thousands of Canadians have engaged and shared their thoughts through various channels offered throughout this past week and online - the highest-ever turnout for pre-budget consultations on record.

All Canadians are encouraged to continue participating online by sending their comments and ideas via the website http://www.budget.gc.ca/pbc16/, or on Twitter using #PBC16. These channels will remain open to Canadians for several more weeks.

Quick Facts

There are several ways Canadians can participate:

• Submissions can be made online.
• Canadians can also reach out on Twitter, using the hashtag #PBC16.

Quote

'Now, more than ever, Canada needs a plan that will ensure long-term economic growth. This government is committed to an ambitious economic agenda, one that is focused on putting more money in the pockets of middle class Canadians, making smart investments in infrastructure and helping the most vulnerable members of our society. But we don't have all the answers. The valuable insight we will garner from Canadians during the pre-budget consultations will guide our work as we begin preparing the 2016 federal budget.'

- Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance

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Media Contacts

Stéphanie Rubec
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-867-3671

Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-369-4000

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